1. The Member demonstrates a high commitment to educational values.

This should be evident in any mission statement, corporate objectives, or strategic goals the provider adopts, and its actions should at all times be compatible with those values. The Member should also be committed to the continuous professional development of academic and administrative staff, instructors and trainers.

2. The Member is financially responsible and can meet its obligations to learners.

A Member's financial resources should afford all enrolled learners a reasonable prospect of completing their studies.

3. The Member adopts widely accepted norms of good business and employment practice including (but not limited to):-

3.1. Having a clear, fair and effective procedure for dealing with complaints.

3.2. Having a fair and effective policy on refunds, which is made clear to the learner prior to enrolment.

3.3 Not discriminating, directly or indirectly, on grounds of gender, sexual orientation, race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, or religious or political belief.

3.4 Having adequate premises and equipment to conduct its business.

4. All staff are suitable for the positions they hold, and possess appropriate qualifications and experience.

5. Learner support is of high quality. Where a Member employs more than one tutor, trainer, or instructor steps are taken to ensure that support is consistent throughout the provision.

Such measures may include but are not necessarily limited to:-

5.1 The development of normative schemes for marking and assessment.

5.2 Guidance notes for instructors, trainers, and/or faculty.

5.3 Regular meetings of instructors, trainers and/or faculty.

5.4 Sharing information on good practice, problems and solutions.

5.5 Ongoing monitoring and review of tutors'/ instructors'/trainers'/faculty work, including random or systematic sampling of marking and comments.

5.6 An appraisal system for tutors/instructors/trainers/faculty.

5.7 Guidance for new academic / training staff in the special requirements of open, distance, and online learning.

5.8 Providing adequate administrative backup for academic / training and administrative staff.

5.9 Such other provisions as the provider deems appropriate.

6. Sufficient resources are available to ensure that every learner receives an adequate individual service

7. The Member adheres to all IADL recommendations and guidelines for the provision of open, distance and online learning.

8. If the Member has adopted its own set of systems and standards by which its performance can be assessed, these standards are compatible with IADL or other appropriate standards and seek, wherever possible, to strengthen those standards in ways appropriate to the particular provision in question.

Such systems and standards may, for example:-

(a). identify & select suitable tutors/ instructors/ trainers and authors of course materials;

(b). monitor and review the continuing competence of all staff on a regular basis;

(c). set time limits for responding to external approaches, marking and returning assignments to learners, or reviewing course materials (d). seek and encourage feedback from staff, learners and customers on evaluating and improving materials and services;

(e). measure outcomes, and use those measurements to enhance provision.

9. IADL approval and accreditation covers the complete range of products and services provided by the Member unless otherwise stipulated. 

11. Any provision may be deemed to be approved by IADL if it is:

11.1 Subject to the Member's own quality control procedures; or

11.2 Subject to the quality control procedures of a partner organisation which is itself recognised by IADL.

11.3 Approved by IADL as a separate item.

11.4 Already approved by another accreditation agency or regulatory body recognised by IADL.

12. Where a Member has sought and obtained accreditation by another organisation recognised by IADL, that accreditation, and any submission made in support of it, may be used as evidence in support of an application for IADL Approved Member or Accredited Member status.

13. An Approved Member may choose to acknowledge membership of IADL in its prospectus, on its website and on other publicity or promotional material. It may use the statement

"Approved Member of the International Association for Distance Learning".

Approved Members are entitled to display the IADL Logo on their website and on promotional literature or teaching materials.

14. Accredited Members may choose to acknowled IADL accredited status in prospectuses, on websites and on other publicity or promotional material. Accredited Members may use the statement

"Fully-Accredited Member of the International Association for Distance Learning".

Accredited Members are entitled to display the IADL Logo on their website and on promotional literature or teaching materials, and will receive a certificate of accredited membership for the duration of their accredited status.

15. Members will be required to submit an annual return in the format required by IADL. Members also agree to allow IADL and/or its duly appointed inspectors or assessors to make unannounced on-site evaluations or other quality control checks which may be required by the Association.

16. Members should report any changes of significance in their operating circumstances or methods of course delivery to IADL.